George m



(-No Model.) v

G. M. SMITH.

BRIDLE.

Patented 0011.31 1893 win 2'0 I vlj UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

GEORGE M. SMITH, OF BOONVILLE, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SYLVANUS YOUNG, OF SAME PLACE.

BRIDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,852, dated October 31, 1893.

- Application filed April 28, 1893. Serial No.4=72,170. (N0 m del? To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boonville, in the county of (Jooper and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to bridles which may be used either as open or blind bridles as desired, the object being to provide an improved construction by which the blinds may be readily attached and detached.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a blind constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the side strap and blind. Fig. 3 is a side view of the blind, the strap being removed. Fig. 4 is a view of the side strap detached; and Fig. 5 is a View of a horses'head with my improvements.

In the said drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the bit to which the reins 2 are secured, 3 the throat latch and 4 the crown piece, of any ordinary or usual construction.

The numeral 5 designates the blind formed of two thicknesses of leather sewed together formed at the upper front end with curved blinkers 6. Secured to the outside of the blind is a loop 7, formed of a single strip of leather bent over into a rectangular shape in cross-section and stitched, riveted, or otherwise secured to the blind. When the loop is sewed, stitched or riveted to the blind, it is necessary make the outer part of the blind in two pieces, for convenience in sewing or riveting, as seen in Fig. 4, but when the loop is tacked to the blind, said outer part may be made in one piece.

The numeral 8 designates the side strap having a buckle 9, secured to its lower end. Intermediate of its ends this strap is formed with an oblong opening 10, for the passage of the tongue 12 of a removable buckle 13, through which buckle the strap passes. In practice the buckle 13 is detached from the side strap and the latter is passed through the loop. The buckle is then again attached and the strap doubled over and passed through the opposite end of the loop. The device is then secured to the crown piece by means of buckle 13, and to the bit ring by means of buckle 9.

To use the device as an open bridle the strap is detached from the crown piece and bit and the loop and blinker removed. The strap is then used in the ordinary manner.

From the above it will be seen that the blind can be easily attached to and detached from the side strap so as to convert the device into an open or blind bridle asmay be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim is- In a bridle, the combination with the-bit, the crown piece, and the side strap secured thereto provided with a buckle at one end and a removable buckle intermediate its ends, of the removable and replaceable blind having a loop through which said side strap passes, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M. SMITH.

Witnesses:

O. STAMMERJOHN, Tnos. B. WRIGHT. 

